ON MUSCULAR MOTION. ^55^^ 



V. 



On mufcular Motion. % Anthony Carlisle, Efq. F. R, S, 

 being the Croonian Lecture, read bffort ihf FU)ijal Society, 

 Nov ember S, 1801-, . 1' . 



(Concluded from Page 201.) 



A HE lofs of motion and fenfation from the influence of low Coici Jeftroys 

 temperature, accompany each other, and the capillaries of the J^°r^.|^^ 

 vafcular fyftem appear to become contra6led by (he lofs of 

 animal heat, as in the examples of numbnefs from cold. 

 Whether the ceflation'of mufcular a6lion be owing to the im- 

 peded influence of the nerves, or to the lowered temperature 

 of the mufcles themfelves, is doubtful ; but the known influ- 

 ence of cold upon the fenforial fyftem, rather favours the fup- 

 pofition that a certain temperature is neceflary for the tranf- 

 miffion of nervous influence, as well as fenfation. 



The hybernating animals require a longer time in drowning Hybematlng 

 than others. A full grown hed?e-hog was fubmerfed in water ^"•""^Js not ca- 



1 /. , . , . .,,»,, - ^ , fily drowned. 



at 48°, and firmly retamed there; air-bubbles began mitantly Experiment with 

 to afcend, and continued during four minutes ; the animal was ^he hedge.hog. 

 not yet anxious for its liberty. After feven minutes it began 

 to look about, attempting to efcape ; at ten minutes it rolled 

 itfelf up, only protruding the fnout, which was haftily re- 

 tradled on being touched with the finger, and even the approach 

 of the finger caufed it to retrad. After fifteen minutes com- 

 plete fubmerfion, the animal ftill remained rolled up, and 

 withdrew its nofe on being touched. After remaining thirty 

 minutes under water, the animal was laid upon flannel, in an 

 atmoJphere of 62^, with its head inclined downwards; it foon 

 began to relax the fphintter mufcle which contra«5ts the tkin, 

 flow refpirations commenced, and it recovered entirely, without 

 artificial aid, after two hours. Another hedge-hog fubmerled 

 in water at 94-^, remained quiet until after five minutes ; about 

 the eighth minute it ftretched itfelf out, and expired at the 

 tenth. It remained relaxed, and extended, after the celTation 

 of the vital fun6lions ; and its mufcles were relaxed, contrary 

 to thofe of the animal drowned in the colder water. 



The irritability of the heart is infeparably conneded with Connexion of 

 reipiration. Whenever the inhaled gas diflfers in its properties '^^/^^gj^^^ ^^*<, 



irom 



